Pregnancy and Heart Disease for the Consulting Physician

Abstract

As more women are becoming pregnant at an older age, cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the pregnant patient is becoming more common. When evaluating the management strategy of pregnant patients with CVD, it is critical to consider the morbidity and mortality of both the mother and the fetus. Knowledge of normal hemodynamic changes and their effects on the physical exam of the pregnant patient is important for accurate and effective management of these patients. With a rise in the incidence of heart disease in the pregnant population, it is important to utilize a team approach to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery for both mother and fetus.

Sliwa K, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Petrie MC, et al. Current state of knowledge on aetiology, diagnosis, management, and therapy of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on peripartum cardiomyopathy. Eur J Heart Fail. 2010;12:767–78.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar